THREE DOTS, NO COM: Countless Chargers memories are far from all wet on a damp El Cajon night

A rainy Thursday night in El Cajon was interrupted by the illuminating sign of Pernicano's. On a soggy evening, it was too welcoming to ignore.

When stepping inside the Italian joint, owned by longtime minority Chargers owner George Pernicano's son, Gary, one was overwhelmed by the smells and sights. George's famous pepper chicken, and the aroma it possesses. And is that Bobby Beathard, now a Tennessee resident, plowing into a plate of pasta?

No, it wasn't a dream after overdosing on pepperoni.

Instead it was the Chargers Alumni Party, which is this shindig's politically correct title. Others call it the reunion of everyone that once worked, or was fired, by the Spanos family, and with the San Diego Convention Center being booked, the crew headed to Pernicano's.

Every two years this group breaks bread, brings back memories and re-tells stories which are seldom told about running a football team.

Ever heard of Margarita Friday, when Pat Thompson, the former PR matriarch, would engage the blender? Quarterback Dan Fouts would supply the clue he visited her siesta, with the salt from the rim of his glass ending up on the hair of his beard.

"If it was a Friday before a road game, we would sing, "On The Road Again,'' Thompson said.

Could Fouts, who was feisty as game day neared, hear the gals?

"Hear us,'' Thompson said, shockingly. "He was singing with us.''

Beathard, the only Chargers GM to reach the Super Bowl, hasn't changed. His white/blond hair was shooting in every direction, his skin tanned, and no one posed for more pictures with former co-workers who remember when.

"This is great, this is terrific,'' said Beathard, and no, we didn't ask about the Ryan Leaf pick. "It is so neat to see so many people ---- I hope I know all their names.''

Thompson handled that, distributing tags for people to place on their chests, or right above their hearts which still beat for the Chargers.

Coaches Ernie Zampese and Rudy Feldman were there, but also numerous anonymous workers from the accounting, ticket, equipment, training and scouting departments.

It was awesome spotting George Pernicano, in his 90s and still telling stories about his old haunt, Casa di Baffi. Once Hillcrest's top hangout, Pernicano hosted visiting AFL teams before games and supplied his mouth-watering veal cutlet sandwiches for their plane flights home.

Don't believe George? Believe me in covering Super Bowl XL in Detroit and seeing Joe Namath cause a stir by crossing a large and crowded room to give Pernicano a bear hug, which revealed his affection for the restaurant he called ''Pork Chop Hill.''

"I always put him in a back booth, so he could enjoy his meal,'' Pernicano said, but I can't repeat the rest of the tale about attractive women asking Namath if he needed a shake or two of, let's say, Parmesan cheese.

"Those were the days,'' Pernicano said.

They were, and they lived again on a damp El Cajon night that was like a bolt from the blue. ...